Ballot-box



4 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. M. FENNBRTY.

BALLOT BOX.

Patented Oct. 21, 1884.

JJV'TTEJVTOR I 6 @WW (No Model.) 4 S heets-Sheet 2. J. M. PENNERTY.

BALLOT BOX.

No. 306,819. Patented Qct. 21,1884.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. M. FENNEBTY.

BALLOT BQX.

No. 306 ,819. Patented 0013.21, 1884.

WITNESSES JJVVEJVTO f 'w W W 6% 1 v r flttorneyp' A .Yu 8 e h S k M e hs 4 Y m Em NB NT m L A B J (No Model.)

N0. 306,819. Patented Oct. 21,1884.

- uvvuv a WITNESSES 4 MM W .dtcorneys UNllTED birarns Parana @rricn.

JOHN M. FENNERTY, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

BALLOT-BOX.

13? UIPICATIGH forming part of Letters Patent No. 306,819, dated October21,1884.

Application filed February 23, 1881. No modeLi To all whom it "HMlyconcern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN M. FENNERTY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Men1 phis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee,have invented a new and useful Ballot- Box, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved ballot-box closed,either before or after election. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of theballot-box opened, but not disclosing the working mechanism that conveysthe ballot to the ticketrcceptacle, prints the marks thereon, sounds thealarm, and registers the ballot. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of thelid,showing the working mechanism contained therein. Fig. i is a detail viewof the registering mechanism. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of thesetting mechanism and the alarm mechanism. Fig. (5 is a transversesection through the coverplatc, the automatic catch for locking it, andthe inking and stamping mechanism. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view ofthe rod (1 and the notched ean'rplate d. Fig. 8 is a detail view of theframe 7;, showing the slots for the roller-journals and the openings forthe main shaft. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the settingstud and itsattendant mechanism. Figs. 10 and 11 are detail views of thesetting'slide and mechanism; and Fig. 12 is a detail view of the pawland ratchet.

This invention has relation to safety ballot boxes to be used at UnitedStates, State, county, and other elections, to prevent tampering withthe ballots after they have been deposited in the box;to preventballot-box stuliing; voting of tissue-ballots, by providing for theirdetection when the ballots are counted; to be used, also, to registereach ballot as it is passed into the box, and to sound a bell or gong atthe deposit of each ballot, so that bystanders may keep a count of thenumber of ballots east; and it consists in the construction and novelarrangement of devices, as will be hereinafter fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, a designates theballot-box proper; a, the ballot or ticket receptacle; and a, the coveror lid, which is provided with an internal hinged inclosing-bottom a",and contains most of the working mechanism for perfornr ing the severaloiiices for which the box is intended. The lid (6 is provided with ahasp, a, which engages a staple, a, projecting from the body of the box,and is secured in place by apadlock. The hasp 0 covers the keyhole to acatch-lock of approved pattern, when closed, to give additional securityto the box when locked. The lid of the box is provided with a small box,I), in which the crank-handle I) is kept locked when not in use. Thepadlock may be also kept in this boX b during the time the ballots arebeing taken from the box and counted, so that it may not be accidentallylost. The lid a is provided with a ce11trally-located ticketorifice, N,which is metal-faced, and is of a size proper to admit the ordinaryelection ticket when folded according to custom. It is also provided infront of the ticket-orifice I)" with a metal-faced rectangular opening,Ir, for the hasp If of a hinged metal cover-plate, b, which is intendedto close the ticket-orifice both before and after the balloting. Whenthe metal cover-plate b is open during election days. a pivoted plate, bsecured to the lid between the metal-faced openings, is adapted to beswung round over the rectangular opening Irto prevent the hasp If frombeing accidentally passed down through the opening 1)" into engagementwith the selfcatching lock 0 on the under face of the lid.

When it is designed to close the ticket-orifice at the time of closingthe polls, the pivotplate I) is swung round away from the haspopeningZ), and the hasp 1) passes down through it, when the covcrplate isproperly manipulated, and engages the self-catching slide-bolt cbeneath, thereby locking the cover-plate, so that it can only be openedby opening the box a and unlocking the internal hinged inelosing-bottoma and springing the bolt 0 for this purpose. The lid of the box is alsoprovided with a perforated plate, 0, which covers an opening in the lidover the bell, hereinafter described, for the purpose of permitting thesound emitted by the bell when struck by the hammer to be heard for aconsiderable distance from the ballot-box. Immediately in front of thisperforated plate 0 is a slotted plate, 0 through the slot 0 of 'heneaththe top of the lid, as shown.

which a headed setlingstud, a, provided with a tension-spring, c,hetween its head 1:" and a slide-plate, c,- operating over the slot c,passes. To the lower end ol the setting-rod 0" is secured a rod, d,working horizontally in aligned hearings d" d", secured to the underLl'ace ol" the lid proper ol' the hex, as shown. This rod (7/ isprovided with a notched. shout der-plate, d, between the hearings d" (iwhich moves with the rod d and has slight play hetween thehearing-plates d (1?.

To the face 01' the slotted platec nearest the crank end ol' the lid, issecured a curved gruirdplate, 1/, which prevents the sellingstud if frombeing aecidenlalty moi ed in its slot to set the notched plate d, topermit a singlerevolution ot' the operatingcrank. The main shalt (1extends from inner to inner l'ace ol" the ends of the lid proper ol' thebox on a horizontal line a little in the rear ol' the longitudinalmiddle line of the lid, and of course The main portion of the main shalt(J is made ot' wood in order that it may be 01 a proper diameter andalso be strong without being too heavy. The crank end ol' the main shaltis preferably ot' brass, and its extreme end is made hollow, the hollowbeing threaded to receive the threads on the stem of the crank wheninserted through an opening in that end of the lid, as will he i'urtherexplained. The hollow threaded portion ot'the main shalt c is madesmaller in diameter than the sleeve portion eol' said shalt e, and isprovided with a ratchet-whee1, (if, fixed to the hollow port ion 0outside ol' the enlarged metal hearing c for the shalt e, secured to thetime of the lid proper, nearthe crank end thereof in which the sleeveporlionc" revolves in one direction only. A. spring-pawl, c, is securedto the under fare of the lid proper to prevent backward motion of theratchet-wheel c, and consequently ol' the main shalt (5.

The opposite end 01' the main shalt c from that just described has aspindle bearing]; in an angle-plate, f secured to the under face. of thelid proper, and to that end of the lid, which is connected by togglearms f f l'or securing the lid to box a to prevent the lid from beingopened lwyond a vertical position.

This end of the main shalt c is provided with a worm, i upon thetapering portion i, extending tor a short distance inwardly ol" the mainshall; a l'roin its connection with thespindle-hearingf. The thread ofthe worm v? extends once around the tapering portion of the main shaltc, and is drawn out to operate one of the star-point teeth, '6, ot' awheel, i, having ten of these teeth i. This whee] if mounted on the rearend of a small. shalt, i, which extends forward, and has its ljiearingain the casc-plates i" 11'? ot the registering mechanism at the trout ot'the lid, as will he hereinal'ter explai ned. A reelangular frame, it, ofwood, open at both top and bottom, has a and is scoured at its ends tothe inner laces ol the sides of the lid, so that its sides will heparallel with and at equal distances from the lil'itllSVGl'St) middleline ol' the lid. The sides of this open top and bottom l'rame areprovided with (awnings is. Is, through which the main shalt 0 passes.That: portion it" which lies between the sides of the rectangular l'rame1.1 is slightly larger than the portions lyingoutside of the openings1;" 1.". and is' n'ovidedwith shouldtns 7: If. Between these shouldersI." if the portion lif is slightly conVere-convex in longitudinalsection, and is iirovided on ils circuml'erential middle with a ruhherstamp, I, which may he providtal with the tltkSlttltl type-inaltersuch,l'or instance, as i;legist ered roledlth Wari'l, Memphis, AngJT,ilt'w'tj-l or any other designating on what date the ticket was placedin l he box, the polllug-place, ward, or precinct, and the like, whichwill readily suggest themselves. in l'ront oi this stamp l, andjournaled in slotted hearings t in the sides ol the rectangular l'rameIn, the journals 7 Z of which project through said slotted hearings H,is a second wooden roller, Z, which is Coll(fttYU-l'tlllttil\"(3 inlongitudinal section.

In the rear ol' the stamp l, and iourualed in elongated slot-hearings,are two dist-rihutingrollers, 'l" I, the roller 1 having its journalsprojecting through the slotehearings 7 {F in the sides of therectangular frame I.:, and connected to the journals l" (1 ol" thewooden roller 1 h retractlug-springs in in, so that the rollers will heheld in yielding connection, hut will notpermit a ticket to heintroduced into the tiele et oriliee and. passed into theticket-receplaele ol' the ballot-box withoutemploying thecrank torevolve the main shalt 0. in rear 01' and below the distrihutingrollersis hinged aninking-pad, on, which is held in place 'hy a llat.

spring, at", secured at one end to one side of a pert'in'ation, a, intowhich the end of the.

hollow threaded portion of the main shaft 0 enters, but does not passthrough. The hori Zontal slot a" in l'rontol' and in line with theperloration a, and in rear ol" the ierl'oration a the plate n isprovided with a casing, n", openingthrough the plate a, in which easingaspiral contracting and expanding spring, 0, is seated. This spring 0 issecured at its l'orward end to aslide, 0, provided at its lhrward endwith a linger-piece, 0*, which is screwed into the forward end of saidslide 0 through depth less than the ends and sides of the lid, 1 theslot '12 into a threaded pta'foration in said rurcd to the under face ofthelid.

slide a. The slide 0 is also provided with a perforation, o, of the samesize, or nearly the same size, as the perforation n in the slotted plate021. Let into the outer face of the end of the lid is aplate, p, whichis also provided with a perforation, p, which aligns with theperforation Win the slotted platen. The slide 0 is provided near itsforward end on its upper edge with a detent or stop, q.

Above the slide 0', on the inner face of the end of the lid, is a flatspring, g, which is pro vided in its forward end with a push-stud, g",which passes out through an opening in the end of the lid and projectsslightly near theplate on the outside of the end of thelid. Thepush-stud g engages a notch, q", in the edge of .the slide 0 when theslide 0' is pushed for ward to align the perforations in the inner andouter plates with its own perforation to permit the insertion of thehandle into the threaded end of the main shaft 0. The detent or stop onthe slide 0 will. move the push-stud out. The slide 0', when the forceexerted on it to contract the spring within its case has been released,will move back to engage the puslrstud, and will hold the threeperforations in alignment. After the stem of the crank has beenintroduced these parts cannot get out of alignment by accident. Theouter perforated plate in the end of the lid is provided with a swingingcover-plate, p, which covers the pen foration insaid plate when thecrank-handle has been removed, and when the handle has been removed thepush-stud may be pushed in to release the slide 0 and throw theperforations out of alignmenawhichis usually done after the ballots haveall been cast. The setting-stud under the curved guard is first set bymoving it to the left by hand. This carries the notched plate on thelower end of the setting-stud toward the left and brings its notch inline with an arm, 1', extending ontwardly from the main shaft.

The alarm mechanism consists ofa bell, r, on a threaded stem, 1*,depending from aplate secured to the under face of the lid.

The bell-hammer consists of a ball, '1', seoured to an angle-levcr, r,secured in a pivoted fulcrum on the lower end of an arm se- Aretractingspring, s, is secured to the under face of the lid, and passesaround beneath the anglelever r and in contact with it, andisprovidedwith a coil, 1". as shown. A stud, on the main shaft 6 strikes theprojecting end of the angle-lever r and pulls the retractingspring 8down by means of the forward portion of the lever 9-, and when the studsslips over the projecting end of the lever r the spring swill cause theball to strike the bell just after or at the time onerevolution of themain shaft 0 has been made and the shaft stopped by the arm whichcarries the settingstud -to its normal position, thus indicating thatone ballot has been deposited. As the settingstud must be moved to theleft each time a revolution of the main shaft is made, every time. analarm is sounded it may be tallied by bystanders, so the actual tallymay be kept by persons who do not see the ballots deposited.

The registering mechanism will be now de scribed. The case-plates i aresecured together by corner-posts a-four in number-and are also connectedto the end of the lid in any suitable manner so as to leave a spacebetween the front side of the lid for the dial-plates, so that thelatter may be exposed through an opening, a, in the front side of thelid. This opening is provided with a glass plate, as usual,

and a slide. a, working in ways a a to protect the glass plate andprevent it from being broken when the ballot-box is being transported.Within the case-plates are journaled four shafts'viz., the long shaft i,carrying the wheel (having ten star-point teeth, 6") at its rear end,which engages the worm on main shaft 0, and is the prime shaft, andcarries the longer prime lever-arm a between the caseplates 2'" i andthe prime dial 1;, having the nine digits arranged so that they will beeX- posed successively as the dial turns to the right hand; the shortshaft r, having the wheel a, the short lever 'v in rear thereof, and thesecond dial d at its forward end provided with the same digits, and alsorevolving to the right; third. the shaft 10, having the wheel 10, withten teeth, the lcver'arm w", and the third dial-plate revolving to theleft; the fourth shaft, lever-arm, and star-point toothed whcel havingten teeth and a dial which revolves to the left, but is larger incircumference than the others, in order that the view-space or windowneed not be so large to expose the numbers on the dials, as they can bebrought on a horizontal line, and quite close to each other. Thisregister will register up to ten thousand, which is ample for any wardor for general purposes. The internal hinged bottom, a, has a middleopening, a through which the ballots drop to the ticket receptacle orbox after they leave .the stamping and feeding mechanism.

To arrange the ballot-box for use at the polls, it must be unlocked atthe padlock first and the staple removed. The hasp is then liftedand'the catch-lock connecting the lid to the body of the box opened andthe lid turned up, so that the internal hinged lidbottom, a, may beunlocked and turned down to expose the working mechanism within the lid.The sliding catch should then be withdrawn to permit the hinged platethat protects the ticket-orifice to be turned back. The slide 0 shouldthen be pushed down until it engages the push-stud and causes theperforations for permitting the crank-stem to be entered into thethreaded end of the main shaft to be aligned for this purpose. Thehinged lid-bottom should again be locked, (the pad having been firstproperly inked,)and the lid turned downit looks itself automaticallyandthe hasp applied and the padlock. put on. It wi1l, ot' course, benecessary to have the dials 0f the IOO register set at zero to startwith. The crank should then be taken from the small box on the top ofthe lid, the plate closing the aligned openings turned to open them, andthe crankstem inserted and turned to place in the threaded end of themain-shaft. The pivoted plate covering the ticketorifice should then beturned to open the same and cover the haspopening for the hingedcover-plate, so that the hasp may notbe accidentally inserted thereinbefore it is time to close the polls; otherwise the ballot-box might beclosed too early.

This ballotbox is complete in all of its appointments, will not get outof order. am c mnot be tampered with without the fraud l cing detected,and if properly used will. insure a fair count.

\Vhen a ballot is offered, the person whose duty it is to receive it anddeposit it in the box will take it in his left hand and hold it over theticket-orifice, and then insert it therein. At the same time with hisright hand he will remove the setting-stud to the left from its normalposit-ion, and his assistant will turn the crank, which will carry theticket down between the stan1 ing-roller and the spring-roller, (and itcannot be forced through without the crank is turned, as theretractingsprings will. prevent this.) where it will be stampedand onlyone ticket can be stamped at a time, even if several are folded togetherthe bell will sound the alarm that a ticket has been deposited, and atthe same time the register will mark one ticket registered, and thecrank will be stop pod and the setting-strul will be back in its normalposition long before the revolution has been made, so that the crankcannot be turned backward to prevent an alarm or aregistry of theticket.

In addition to the small box on the top or side of the lid proper, Ihave provided a small drawer, m, which sides into the lid or upperportion of the box through its front side, near the crank end, but notnear enough to interfere with the operation of the setslide 0. Over saiddrawer, in the top of the lid, is an opening or slot, :0, through whichthe key to the crank-box and the key to the internal hinged bottom areto be dropped when the polls are closed and before the counting ofthetickets begins, and the key to this draweris to be retained by thesheriff, the marshal, or any regularlyappointed deputy, and taken to thesheriti"s or marshals office for safe keeping until again needed.

The slot .t in the top ofthclid ofthe box is pro vided on its under facewith a catclrplate or spring-lock, at, to protect the slot and preventthe keys in the drawer m from being taken therefrom, although readilyadmitting them to the box through said slot. The judges of the electionand all other persons can then have access only to the ticketa'eceptaclefor the pun pose of counting thetickets, and cannot change or alter theregister. This drawer for containing the above-described keys istherefore an additional safeguard, as ih'lUtLVLS the safe keeping of thebox in a greater number of official hands. The instructions formanipulating the box and keys should be printed in la rgo type andpasted on the outside of the internal lid in plain view, so that anyperson may readily understand how to open, close, sctthe box, anddeposit the keys when the polls have been closed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. .In a safety ballot-box, the combination.

with a ballot-box receptacle for the tickets when deposited, and ahinged lid adapted to be locked thereon, and provided with a hingedbottom lid adapted to be locked to thchinged lid to conceal and exposeat will the printing, registering, and alarm mechanism, of aticketoritice protected by a hinged cover'plate provided with a hasp toengage a spring-latch concealed within the lid-space,substanl ially asspecified.

2. In a safety bn'llot'box, a hinged lid having a hinged bottom adaptedto be locked to said lid, a main shaftha-vingahollow threaded portion, aratchet and pawl at one end, a spin tile-journal and tapering worm atthe other end, and intermediate arms projecting from said shalt, incombination with bell mechanism, printing mechanism,and registeringIncchanism, a setting-stud and notched plate. slide mechanism foraligning the perlbrations in the end plate and inner slotted plate. anda puslrstud and spring for holding and releasing the slide of said slidenuwhanism,substantially as specified.

3. In a safety ballot-box, the hinged lid haw ing the rectangular middleframe arranged transversely of the lid, in combination with the mainshaft having the rubber stamp at- .tached around its middlecircumfcrcncc, the

spring-roller arranged in slotted bearings at one side thereof in saidframe, the distributing-rollers journaled in elongated slots in saidframe on the opposite side of the stamp, the hingedinking-pad and itsholding-spring, the hinged bottom for concealing them under lock andkey, and mechanism for setting and open ating the main shaft,substantially as specified.

.[n a safer; ballot-box, the combination of the main shaftjournaled inbearings at the ends of the lid, and having the ratehct-whccl and theworm, the star-wheel with the ten teeth on the shaft at a right angle tothe main shaft and engaging the worm, the lever near the other end ofthe star-wheel shaft and the prime-dial at its end, the three othershafts in the case-plates of the register having leverarms, ten-toothedwheels, and dials, and the view-plate and covering, and mechanism forsetting and operating the main shaft for imparting the mot-ion to theregistering mechanism, substantially as specified.

5. In a safety ballot-box, the combination, with the main shaftsupported in suitable bearings in the lid of the box, and provided atone l end with the hollow internally-theaded metal portion, of theslotted plate having the halfcase for the retracting-spring connected tothe l set-slide having the perforation for the stem l of the crank, theslottled plate having also a l perforation for said stem, the outerplate in l the end of the lid for said stem, the inside ilat springprovided with the notched push-stud l passing out through the end of thelid, and the stop and finger-piece on the slide, substantially asspecified. (5. In a safety ballot-box, the combination, with the hingedlid and the hinged bottom lid 1 incasing an alarm and mechanism forsounding it, of a perforated plate covering an opening in the top of thelid over the alarm, substantially as specified. 7. In a safetyballot-box, the combination i of the four shafts, four star-point wheelshavl ing ten teeth each, the four dials, and three detcnt'springs, theglass view-plate and slide,

and mechanism for operating the toothed wheels to move the dials,substantially as specified.

S. In a safety ballot-box, the combination of the setting-stud havingthe head-spring and cross-plate, the slotted plate through which thestud passes, a red at the lower end of the setting stud carrying anotched plate and working in bearings secured to the under face of thelid, and the main shaft having an arm to engage the notched plate, andmechanism for 5 operating the parts, substantially as specified.

in testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN M. FENNERTY.

\Vitnesses:

THEO. HUNG-EN, EDW. G. SIGGERs.

